Desperation: A Novel

A great book to pass your free time and be prepared to get goosebumps and tingles all over when reading (especially at night)! Stephen King's books are a true work of genius and this latest one rocks! Be sure never to pull over when a cop car has its sirens on when you are driving in the middle of the Nevada desert...the copy might just be Entragian,the psycho and main character of this novel!

When I started reading this book it really caught my attention. The story goes into a very elaborated description of creepy events. I couldn't stop reading because it was very interesting; However, as I got to about 3/4 of the way from finishing this story, the plot unfolded into a wild sequence of unnatural events. It really caught me off guard and the ending was a bit disappointing, not in the sense that I wanted a specific character to win or anything, but how incredibly fictitious it got. I know Stephen King's story are mostly surrealistic/creative but this one pushed the boundaries. There are some types of fantasies that provide a good read, but this one is the type of fantasy that is plainly absurd (even though some may argue that it has a profound meaning). Overall, Desperation provides a good read for about 3/4 of the way, then I think it would be best to leave the rest to one's own imagination. I would still recommend it because it is not a complete disaster but I wouldn't put it on the top of my list.

A good scary novel, though at times it feels overwritten. And there's so much crying in the finale, it got on my nerves. King doesn't quite satisfy in terms of the creature's motives and that proved frustrating for me, but I still enjoyed the ride while it lasted.

While reading Desperation, one is drawn into a world of seemingly archaic folklore and believable characters. As with several of Steven King's books, an undercurrent of the classic good-vs-evil motif is cleverly balanced with humor and mystery.
Several of the story arcs revolve around the excavation of an old mine that collapsed in the past killing many miners. A small child wanders into the newly reopened mine, and unknowingly becomes the host of an evil parasitic entity. This cycle of body-snatching and psychological terror presents several of the characters with dilemmas.
I highly recommmend this novel. It ranks up with classic Steven King novels. The reader may also be interested to know that The Regulators by Richard Bauchman is somewhat of the sister novel to Desperation. This is even evident with the covers of these hardback novels.

i thought this book was pretty good. it was, at least, about a million times better than it's partner, 'the regulators'. and the few boring parts (for instance, johnny marinville's little daydreams about his life) are easily outweighed by the really great ones. the book gets a bit slow near the end but for the most part was chilling! i should add that it takes place in nevada, which i was going thru at the time i read it. probably added to the realism, if anything!

Having just slogged through "Bag Of Bones", my expectations for this book were pretty low. Basically, I was anticipating another seven hundred page turkey; my only real motive for reading it was making room on my bookshelf. Imagine my surprise to find it to be one of the best King novels I've ever read. At first, it looked like Jim Thompson-style noir. The villain, a six-foot seven small town Nevada psychotic cop, prowls U.S. 50, "the loneliest road in America", rounding up innocent motorists, kidnapping, imprisoning and killing them. So far, so good. The pure simplicity of such a storyline, especially in the hands of a master storyteller such as Steven King, can't fail to draw a reader in. The brute evil of Collie Entragian, the cop, combined with the isolation of the abandoned western mining town in which the story is set, creates a powerful, suspenseful conflict for the group of travellers Entragian has waylaid and locked up in the jail of the town of Desperation. But there's more. It soon becomes apparent that the supernatural is at work (what Steven King book would be complete without the supernatural?). Entragian speaks to the coyotes, buzzards, scorpions, spiders, snakes and other desert creatures in an unknown language, commanding them to help him carry out his nasty business. He has made good use of them so far, doing away with the entire population of Desperation, and will soon be turning his efforts against the travellers in his jail. For all of it's atmosphere and suspense, this novel is actually a return by King to the exploration of good versus evil, the nature of God and the mystery of faith which he delved into in "The Stand". David Carver, the protagonist, is an eleven year-old boy on vacation with his family when captured by Entragian. He must pit his recently acquired religious faith against the evil spirit of Tak, who has risen from the nearby Diablo mine and inhabited Collie Entragian's body. This faith is mercilessly tested throughout the story, and it's not always clear that God is with this unfortunate little group. If "Desperation" has a weakness, it's probably in the characters. In my opinion, King has never been much in that department and he doesn't show any new ability along those lines in this book. I cared about David and the other good guys only because the story itself grabbed me. However, if that's the worst you can say about a Steven King book, chances are you're talking about a good read. Believe it or not, this is some of the tightest seven hundred pages I can recall reading. I strongly recommend this book.

Desperation is no doubt one of the best Stephen King books ever written. From the start of the book, it's hard to put down. It proves that King is the king of novels! The story strats off with eight people, The Carver Family, Johnny Marinville, and the Jackson couple- Peter and Mary, who in the first third of the book get arrested for a false crime by the local cop, later named Entragian. He eventually arrests them all and takes him to the Desperation town jail, which is a local town. But it turns out the cop isn't all what he appears to be. For as soon as the Jacksons arrive, he kills Petr, and the Carver's daughter. Later on, Steve, Johnny's agent, along with a hitchhiker named Cynthia, go on a search for him and find a horrible secret. And thre is the strange words the cop says-TAK. The battle between good and evil is starting. Welcometo Desperation!

Hi, another great Stephen King book for you. Here is a little about it.
When a strange, evil power called Tak enters the body of a cop and stalks Desperation, Navada, the people there did not have a chance. But will the people he has been catching and locking up meet the same fate? Or will a young boy's faith and power keep them going?

I used to have the luxury of reading Stephen King's books in order, as they were released. He got faster, I got slower, who knows--stuff happens. This is all in explanation of why I just read Desperation. As usual for me, I liked the story, but loved the characters. I guess I'm not truly a horror fan. I read King for the realistic people and how they react in his "what would happen if..." situations. Typical of King's sharp timing, Desperation had excellent tension and suspense. It also had my all-time favorite King character--Johnny Marinville. This has-been author (Marinville, not King) with not much more than his sense of humor intact, takes us on the ultimate redemption trip. I don't mind that these stories usually wind up as a classic tale of good vs. evil, I just don't want the ending too simple or predictable. Desperation kept me guessing until the last 50 pages or so. It made me wish Johnny Marinville's travels could continue on--into other books.

To correct an earlier poster who had a negative review: If God was really cruel and the book was really bad, then He would want you to read it so you would suffer, not keep it away from you.

When you blow the whole premise of your review, it discredits entirely and utterly.

That being said, why do people say "It's not King's best.."?

Of course not, only one can be his best and that has already been written - (insert your own favorite here).

That aside, I enjoyed reading it and found the whole premise very disturbing. The God (Good) v. Evil was first used effectively in Salem's Lot by King and is not different here.

I find comfort in knowing there is a benevolent power that supercedes all evil..but maybe that's just me.

a policeman stops people on the road. there is something very wrong about this policeman- and his small town. something has happened. an evil force has presented itself. the people captured by the policeman must escape and stop it. first they have to find out what's going on. a boy seem to have closer contact with divine forces. this is a very "planned book". there are no irrelevant figures introduced, no sidetracks. very unusual actual. that part is great. good description. good writing style. a touch of psychology. frankly the touch of divine forces irritated me, and the author's sudden "change" really annoyed me. all in all this book wasn't very inventive. the ending must be considered an anticlimax. the characters ended up being a little too stereotypical. but hey, there was suspence here. and the plot just continued, without sidetrackes, admirably. so it's a good read.

After reading THE REGULATORS, I feel DESPERATION is a nice twist on the original story. In fact, while I did enjoy that version, the setting of DESPERATION was more up my alley. I liked the history/legend that was played out. Both I found had the Stephen King feel.

If you love Stephen King you must read Desperation. It is quite long and probably could have been edited a bit more. That being said, it is one that will keep you awake at night. It is one of his more graphic so it is probably not for rookies but I loved it. Very original and very -well the title says it all.

This may actually be the worst King I've ever read. I'll grant that it keeps you turning pages early on. But after a while the obsession with sex gets a little annoying. Even if not his worst, it's certainly his most vulgar. Additionally, this one wraps up in what I've found to be usual King fashion. Far too quickly and with little of the suspense and fear that the story starts with. As is often the case with his stuff, I found myself just wanting to get through the last 100 pages. Just to get it over with. It left me feeling cheated.

I am a Stephen King fan, but even this book surprised me. Amazing heart and charisma. He did it again. I highly recommend this book, but there is a warning to the faint of heart. It can get bloody and if violence really bothers you, you will not be able to see past it and look into the eyes of this book. I couldn't put it down and then I couldn't sleep for a week. I had to hide this book under dresser so I could sleep at nite. This book is alive with it's character's, it's details, it's rythym, and it's soul. Yes, this book has a soul. The details are astounding, and you will fall in love with the people. Stephen King reminds us again, to go to the innocent to be saved. Suffer the children. Great theme. You will love it.
I also recommend: Stephen King's; It, and Pet Semetary.

For those of you who find reading Stephen King an enjoyable little bit of escapism with a few chills and tingles thrown in (I'm talking about the casual reader here not the Constant Reader), you may find Desperation tolerable in it's slightly formulaic tendencies. For the Constant Reader, the serious King afficionado, you will see what Desperation really is: a cry for help? The final throes of a dying dog? The last bitter moments of a waning bit of creative brilliance? Pick your metaphor and run with it. I have read it all! Everything the King-meister has published & I gotta tell you, Desperation is so far from his best, it would need a stepladder and a pair of elevator shoes just to reach up and lick IT's boots. Tired and worn, Steve-O needed to take an extended vacation during the time he wrote Desperation (along with the Bachman-retarded The Regulators) because it has been done and it is a cliche premice and so many other things. Here we have King in mid-life crisis mode, churning out purile rubbish just for the sake of getting it out of his system like a bad hot dog or an under-ripe apple. Mental expulsion akin to cerebral diarhhea. Am I being over critical. Yes. Do I like the newer Stephen King outing as opposed to the classics like The Shining & Firestarter & Night Shift & The Dead Zone & IT? Here and there Steve-O's brilliance still shines through, but Desperation ain't one of those times. I'm not the kind of person that gets off on making fun of other people for their short-comings, but after reading a dozen or more reviews of Desperation where the readers praised it as a taught, heavy-hitting horror fest, well... I'm just going to say this and get it over with: If you found Desperation to be ranked among King's all-time classics, you 1) haven't read very much King or any good King (and you found Gerald's Game to be a delight) or 2) you like your fiction fed to you through an i.v. because you're comatose in the brains & imagination department or 3) you are ABSOLUTELY out of your f*cking MIND and you probably have the IQ of salamander sweat. Desperation, like I said before, is not an acquired taste. I'm not going to roll over any time soon and accept it as a classic piece of horror fiction. That will never happen. I love Stephen King as a writer, he, along with Ray Bradbury, Dan Simmons & Kurt Vonnegut is one of my absolute favorite authors!!! I have read every piece of fiction he has published, for God's sake, but Desperation is a plodding, dragging, dying beast of a novel. It should not be read, but put out of its misery. Tak.

Deal with it!

As a person of faith, I felt this book conveyed eloquently how even though we can't understand the evils in this world, we can believe that God is going to work it all out. Childlike faith is presented so well in this story and the characters real and honest. Stephen King is one of my favorite authors and he doesn't disappoint, it is both scary and endearing, a great read.

As always with King, the language is XXX, not for youngsters, but adults with thick skin, hearty imaginations and a love for a page turner of the first magnitude will love this one. Not a quick read at 706 pages, but well worth the time invested. A couple of really clever twists sewn into the fabric of a story, that while fantasy and horror, also is very uplifting.

I have started to read several of King's books and found myself stopping 300 pages in. Personally I put Desperation down as one of my favorite books of all time! It's dark, methodical and entertaining. The usual backstory (flashbacks) in King's work are a bore to me, but not in this story. Overall a creative piece that comes together beautifully at the end.

I had been told and had read that this novel was extremely gorey and graphic. So i was a little hesitant at first about reading it. But, now that its finished i must say it wasn't that graphic. Some spots, yeah but not what i had thought it would be. This book is a fast read. This book is suspenseful. It doesn't bottom out much. Something is always happening. I mean this book isn't going to go down as a great work of literature but for what it is and compared to all the other books out there i have to say that its one of King's best. It is a really good book and read.

Stephen King seems to go hot & cold for years at a time. His early triumphs (The Shining, The Dead Zone, & the Stand) were followed by a period of draught (Christine, Cujo, Firestarter). Then came a strong period again in the mid-to-late 80's (Pet Semetary, It, & Misery), followed again by a weak period that has lasted through most of the 90s (Gerald's Game, Delores Clairborne, & the truly unreadable Insomnia). But recently King has shown signs of coming out of that funk. The Green Mile wasn't bad, once you got past the goofy serialization gimmick. And Desperation is a good, albeit decidedly un-great, book. The spiritual elements that lay beneath the surface of much of King's work are right up front here as good & evil clash again. Not one that will have King fans saying, "this is it, I give up," nor one that will have them saying, "HE'S BAAACK!!!", simply a decent read.

Desperation is very good Stephen King that builds a sense of peril and has the readers turning page after page well after they were supposed to turn the lights out.
However, the biggest surprise and pleasure is reading it with the Bachman (King) book The Regulators. It is such a weird deja vu experience having character you think you know in both books. Heros relegated to more minor roles and events playing out differently then you think they will because of your preconceptions. Overall a very enjoyable experience.

...because I could not put this book down! Not since Misery has a King novel held my interst as did Desperation. There are enough reviews about this book that clearly describe some of the ideas and characters you'll encounter while reading it, so I'll spare you another long review. My reason for posting my comments are simple. If you enjoy reading a novel, and find yourself trying to predict the outcomes of the various scenarios presented in its pages...and being WRONG every time, then you'll love Desperation as much as I did. The story, characters, and overall message King presents to you with this novel are actually quite touching and memorable. I mean, aside from the harsh language, religious references, and edge-of-your-seat moments filled with gore, but does anyone pick up a Stephen King novel expecting otherwise? Within an hour of finishing it I logged on to the store.Com and ordered me a hardcover edition of The Regulators. If the companion novel is anything like it, I'm sure I'll love it too.

i bought it completely on impulse. and i have never made a better decision in my life. i never read horror before and now i almost read King exclusively. The story is wonderful and takes you into the world of the supernatural and King actaully puts you there. you become mesmerized no matter how outrageous something might seem you're stuck. David Carver was my first introduction into the wonderful development mr king puts into his charaters. there are about 30 pages at least where an accident involving David's friend is involved and it is so beautiful it makes King an even more incredible author because he writes horror by choice he can write anything he wants. the book is frightening,mysterious,wonderful and even life affirming(those who read it know what i mean). This book is one of the best if not the best book i ever read

From the very first chapter I found this book gripping. It is one of those books that is very hard to put down, and as a result my work suffered. But I shall not complain about that as it was one of the most entertaining reads that I have ever had. I am just about to start on the companion novel, "The Regulators" and I hope it's just as frightening and entertaining. I have read a few of King's novels, and this surely ranks up there with the best, although "The Stand" still tops my list. But for someone who enjoys that type of story, 'good against evil', 'God against Satan', then this book is for you. The characters may not be quite as developed as they could be, but that's just a small thing. The fact is, is that this book does what it intends. It keeps you turning pages and scares you silly. Terrific read!

I have always wanted to say, when asked what type of Christian I was, that I was similar to that of Stephen King and the Indigo Girs. King constantly engages with Christianity in ways that realistically explore our faith and times. He does not "sugar-coat" the fact that we as Christians live amid unreconcilables. Desperation, like The Stand before it, explores what faith truly means. King is dealing in Desperation with the question of how we can reconcile a God who loves us and yet allows us to suffer, many times without giving us clear reasons as to why. This strikes me as significant and important in ways that didactically "Christian" novels (such as, most notably, Frank Peretti) never get to the heart of in any way nearly as truly or richly as King.

i'll just say that this book was so good i fell asleep on it because i couldn't put it down. i was entranced by the horror in such a way that, when someone knocked on my door, i jumped and almost fell out of bed. read it and have a blast being afraid!

I felt that Stephen kings desperation was one of thwe best books I've ever read. That is one of the reasons i rated this book with a five.The reasons why i rated this book with a five are as follows, The book had great detail, and great visual detail, and the suspense was awsiome. The detail in the book was very good I could picture everything the authof described. The visual detail was even better, the author made me feel like i was the one in the story, and i could feel the characters pain happiness and fear. Also the suspense in the novel was awsome, it kept me on my toes and made me want to keep reading on and on.I would reccommend this book to any one mature enough to handel foul language and some unspeakable situations. The age group i would reccommend to would probobley be sixteen and up. Although I am only thirteen there are many dfourteen year oldes who are not mature enough to handel this book.

While I am not a fan of long books and Stephen King writes long books, I was pleasantly surprised how quickly I got through the book. I enjoy unusual plots with twists, and Desperation met both of these qualities. I really liked the plot, I was surprised at the ending. I would highly recommend the book.

Desperation is another in the long line of Stephen King greats. King delves into the world of the supernatural, exposing the powers that lurk within. Unlike some of King's other works, I couldn't get myself to put the book down. Somewhat like Pet Semetary and Carrie in the fact that King allows for a slightly less realistic plot in order to further one's own fear of the unknown. Although Desperation won't cause me to enjoy sleepless nights of terror, the idea of an all-consuming, irrestible force from the dark side is very tempting. I rate Desperation an 8 on a scale of one to ten. Not a nine, because I feel true terror is accomplished with more realistic plots. At least an eight because it kept me interested through nearly 700 pages, not once making me wish it could be any shorter

I didn't expect to like this, but it turned out to be a treasure.

In ON WRITING, Stephen King mentioned some of his previous works. One of them, he said, was about as close as he could get to crying for help in his drugged out state. I don't remember the title, since it was something I hadn't read, but I suspect it was DESPERATION. 1996, and it just feels like a cry for help.

No, I cannot check my copy of ON WRITING. I read it about a dozen times, then shipped it to some US soldiers in Iraq. I'm sure they'll appreciate my gift for the treasure it is.

DESPERATION by Stephen King. Some time this year, I came up with my 10% rule, and I have no idea why. View 10% of a film or read 10% of a book, and if it doesn't have me by then, screw it. Life's too short. I'm far more generous than an acquisition editor.

Well, the first 10% or so of this book isn't bad. By the numbers horror about an entire town that's screwed. Here are our protagonists. Here's a nasty antagonist with a delightfully wicked sense of humor. First you make the reader like your characters, then you turn the monsters loose. King's explanation of what he does, and you know he does it well.

But jeez, have we not seen this a few dozen times before? I've written it myself, and be grateful I destroyed it unpublished. After that first 10% or so, I read a few more pages solely because the author is Stephen King. Then he unveiled "the writer character" and I damn near stopped right there. Then some writing that chilled me to the bone, followed by a little speed bump of an unnecessary scene. After that, I quit counting pages. His magic grabbed me, the way it often can, and I just kept reading and enjoying. Hundreds of pages in a row, all quite well done, all vintage Stephen King.

I've read more than one of King's "small town goes down the tubes" stories, and more than one of his "good versus evil epic" stories. DESPERATION is better than most, and I have nothing bad to say about it. I damn sure prefer it to TOMMYKNOCKERS or THE STAND, for example. Even its "flaws" become endearing. They make it unique and memorable, as every book should be.

Despite all that King has written about how he bad was before he got clean, don't you ever doubt that he was fully aware (on some level) of every single aspect of every single character in DESPERATION at all times. That's what makes him a writer, folks. He's always true to his characters, even when they're burned out book writing dope fiends.

A wonderful tale full of horror and insanity. A group of people driving by the town of Desperation, Nevada, are stopped by Collie Entragian, a Desperation Police Officer, and are brought into the town to fight the ultimate battle against evil with the help of the praying boy, eleven-year-old David Carver. This story is very interesting, especially at the beginning. It starts off strong and loses the reader a little towards the middle, but if you read this, don't give up on it. It is long, but the end is fantastic. A few of the characters such as Johnny Marinville and David Carver are amazingly crafted. The scene where Entragian pulls over Marinville is also very comical. A fun story with a few scary parts. Classic King.

Having only read one King book ("On Writing") before this, I was looking forward to it. Desperation was engrossing at times and tough to get through in spots. Many times it had the feel that the author was rambling to fill space. There were passages that filled pages and didn't add value to the story at all.

Desperation is a very good story that could have been better told.

In "On Writing" King recounts a lesson he learned early in his writing career; it is something to the effect of: "Rewriting is writing minus 10%." He was saying that, during a rewrite you eliminate 10% of what you have written. Desperation seems like he ignored his own advice. It was a very captivating story that could have used another rewrite.

Although this is only my third book of Mr King I have read (after "Rose Madder" and "Dark Tower IV: Wizzard and Glass"), I am really impressed. First thing which made me addicted to King was movie "The Stand". If ever in my life I will go on American Highway 50 in Nevada around the Austin, I will be really afraid. I like the way the King reveals his characters. If in the beginning Collie Entragian seemed to be a cop who really cares about law, then after killing Mary's husband and after cop's meeting with Johny Marinville, I changed my mind. King knows how to build level of being scared step by step. From now on I will by every book written by Stephen King I see ! I really recommend everybody to READ IT !!! Thank u for attention.

"Desperation", is a great treat to get from good 'ol Steve, after many more "realistic" stories. I loved "The Green Mile", but always like when King goes back to his true form, out and out, horror. "Rose Madder" was the last book that excited me the way that "Desperation" did. A cast of characters worthy of "IT" and "The Stand" and enough wolves, rats, and snakes and other creep-crawlies to leave you squirming in your seat. Bizarre villains, and an ancient legend worthy of Tolkein and, more importantly, King's old style! I loved this book, couldn't put it down . That's whay King fans want, a novel you just can't put down for a week, and "Desperation" really delivers in that category!!

"Desperation",by Stephen King, is an excellent book. Its about different families that end up traveling through the same town of Desperation, hence the name of the book. The families have no ties together, but they all meet in Desperation. But in the town of Desperation, there is a psychotic, derranged cop. He is not himself, he is, "possessed", I guess would be an okay term. He can talk to animals, which do his bidding for him. But after the families meet, Entragian, the cop, starts pulling them over for bogus mishaps. He beats some of his victims, and others he is nice to, but either way, you end up in jail. Eventually the families end up in jail together and escape. But they are not safe, Entragian is always on the look out. This book is an excellent read. Its not for the young, with bad language, drug content and a little sexuality, but it is a good book if you ever have free time, go ahead and pick it up.

This is a good book, a standard good vs. evil plot with a mismatched group of good guys working together - similar to the classic Night of the Living Dead situation. But instead of zombies, we have a deranged cop, who is apparently under the control of the Crimson King from the Dark Tower.

Simply put: If you like King, you'll love this book, if you don't read much of his stuff, you'll enjoy it anyway.
Good story, great plot, deep characters, the whole ball of wax. I did feel that the young hero of the story was a little to obvious, but not enough to put me off.
Buy it... read it, and enjoy it.

What is it with the publishers of King's books, that they
seem content to let him go on and on? Like other reviewers
I enjoyed the start of the book, and the initial stories
of the highway travelers being pulled over were gripping,
because, it could happen to you! (characteristic of many
early King novels). A hundred pages in or so and we're back
to King on automatic pilot where the verbage comes thick
and fast. I couldn't be bothered to finish this, making this
the second King book I have read to die of boredom (Insomnia
being the first, and if anything, the cure). King's earlier
works, Christine, The Dead Zone, even IT, were page turning
thrillers. Lately he seems to be just a page churning filler.
Mr. King, get a good editor, and stay away from 'uncut editions.'

This book is very blunt and to the point with everything. A tactic I greatly enjoy in spurts mixed with settling reality. But the closest this work does to that is sputtering down in the middle, which for me created a sense of boredom not perspective. I never felt for these characters because of their indispensable nature and sheer stupidity. A good horror story is one that seems to have no hope, no solutions but death or worse. However this story contained a thousand solutions from beginning to end.

I'm shocked that Desperation is rated higher than The Regulators. Granted, I did not read the entire book. However, I read nearly 200 pages and got to the point where I considered reading further to be a waste of time that could be better spent with better books. Desperation started off like it was going to be a real page turner, and I wanted to stay up all night to read more. But it peetered out as soon as the Carver family came into the picture. Bits were very entertaining, but wholly unsatisfying. The villian started off as quite frightening but his stupid, ridiculous dialogue and that of characters like Cynthia got on my nerves. I have to say I was glad to see the reference to Rose Madder (highly recommended), though. The Regulators was great, Desperation I couldn't get through.

God vs. Satan, with Man in between spilling lots of blood to settle the score. As per usual with Mr. King's work, this will not disappoint, and you might want to think twice about that cop in the rearview mirror pulling you over.

I Loved this book. I dont know why anyone would hate this book. This was one of those books that I could not put down when I got started. From Suspense to sheer terror, from Love to Pain to Healing, the book was a roller coaster ride. And being a christian I loved the way he incorporated into the mix, King is Good!(God IS Love!) I was almost sorry to have finished the book, The characters were wonderful. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK! TAK!

I'm still not done with this book, but I have to say it's one of my favorite King books yet. I had never even heard of it and picked it up on a whim. This one builds up suspense from moment one and doesn't let you go. It's dark and spooky and just plain hard to put down. As with all King books, you feel like you are right there with the characters. The book lacks no detail or grip! Thanks, Mr. King!

I Highly recommend this book. It is my favorite book, and i have read quite a few. It is both a horror novel, and on another level one that makes you think twice about your very existence. It manages to blend the surreal battle of good and evil, with an idealistic outlook on the way things are. Stephen King puts such realistic characters into such an insane setting, you can never really tell when it is too much. This book has definitely changed my life, and has caused me to start writing my own novel. If you read this i hope you enjoy it as much as i did.

Leave on a holiday and find yourself fighting for your life and soul. This is the basis of Stephen King's Desperation. I love Stephen King. In my opinion no other horror writer can match him, and this is definitely one of his better novels. Scary, thought-provoking and uplifting, this book is difficult to put down. I recommend it to fans and non-fans alike.

Stephen King has been traveling new paths lately. Note HEARTS IN ATLANTIS (stories about Vietnam) or his memoir-slash-tips-for-writers piece, ON WRITING. In the last few years, he has strayed a bit from what he does best, though - scaring the bejebus out of his readers. It's his meat and potatoes.
Call this a main course, then.
King paints his morbid town and colors his palatte with interesting characters. This book reads fast, hard and relentless. As always, get a few friends to read it because this is one of those books you'll want to discuss with others when it's all said and done. If you haven't picked up King in awhile because his books aren't "scary" enough, this is one you shouldn't let get by you.

Stephen King once again "Tak"-cles the world of spiritual war, not only within the physical world but within the human soul. The story starts with irrational killings galore, but it doesn't take the reader long to see that King is weaving a story of morality and one's purpose in life. Prepare for a large mixture of emotions, from wincing at death to tears in your eyes at King's great ending. This novel left me critically evaluating my life for days after finishing. For anyone who thinks that King only produces evil books, this is THE book to show a side of King that many do not know.

A dull tale which was more of a stunt than a story. SK published this book and "The Regulators" at the same time is a publicity stunt and it shows in both books. While this is the better of the two, nether is a worthwhile read. Keep to SK's earlier works if you're looking for storys to enjoy.

I felt seriously disappointed, let down, and cheated by "The Regulators." But "Desperation" evens the score. I don't think it's among King's _very_ best. I'd say, don't miss it--but it's OK to wait for the paperback.

I think this is the first King novel that has dealt so explicitly with an almost conventional Christian/religious subplot... King talks about God in this one, not just about generalized vague forces of good and evil. Have to go back and read "The Dead Zone" again... Well, I'm not a conventional Christian, but if I can accept it in C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien I can accept it in Stephen King.

I only gave this novel 2 stars because I wrote a previous review on this King novel and bashed it unnecessarily. This book is a great one indeed, while being a bit long for the subject material, it is a deffinetly great read (if you like horror, that is)...sorry for the low rating.

I'll be the first to admit, it's hard for me to get through a King novel. Most of the time I find him a bit too wordy, but this book got my attention from page one! Desperation is over 700 pages long and I read it in 2 days. This is an excellent King novel and it keeps you on the edge of your seat! Highly recommended for King fans and folks who are on the fence about his writing! My fav King book by far!!!!! Check it out!

Although this book is as gruesome as anything I've ever read, I had to admit the writing was top-notch. King is certainly a rare talent--so immensely creative. The story is a page turner, the characterization is strong, and everything works well together.

I've been a Stephen King fan for, like, FOREVER and have virtually read 'em all. This is the absolute top, so far, OMHO. I had to keep shutting the book to digest the horror and calm down before continuing. Amazing twists and turns. It just doesn't get better (or scarier).

This book was rather comical at parts...Whenever someone would yell "Tak!" it was rather funny...but it got old too soon. This book was not horror however, for it didn't incite even the most minute amount of fear into you, unless you happen to be a ten year old. I could not even finish this book, as it was not aimed at mature level readers. King intwined a tres numb Judeo-Christian value into the novel which absolutely degraded the level of the book. This book was not King's forte and should best be left alone.

This book wasn't too scary, but it was wonderfully suspenseful. Gory, gruesome and yet beautifully spiritual - a weird mix and yet it worked so good. I read the last page and felt satisfied, like after Thanksgiving dinner.

I was disappointed with this book, as well as The Regulators. These are the books from Stephen King that I read and promptly forgot. They were good entertainment while I was reading them, but they were just not "unforgettable."

I haven't read Stephen King since I was a teenager and finally just put The Tommyknockers down due to long-winded nothingness. That was about 20 years ago, and after reading King's "On Writing" I was excited enough to try again.

I actually skimmed most of the FIRST THIRD of the book. The backstory on each character was way overdone. I don't need 4 pages about diseases the older man feared. He's having a hard time adjusting to his age. I get it!

And insulting other authors while he's in the middle of blathering on about...I couldn't even tell you, how downright tacky is that? Why does Stephen King think he's in a position to constantly put other writers down? King's ego came through in a big way and destroyed the whole story. Otherwise, he would care about boring his reader to death and realize that not every word he writes is gold! Editor anyone?

Mr. King,you have much bigger problems than adverbs.

"Desperation" is a great book. However, compared to it's pseudo-book, "The Regulators," it is not as good. "Desperation" is a story about God. It covers His influence on many different kinds of people. The characters in "Desperation" covers people from all different backgrounds, which is what makes the characters interesting. Their conflicting personalities make "Desperation" work. Stephen King has done a great job in making this story work. Even though the book takes a little too long in some of its aspects, the book, once its finished, is a good experience, and worth buying.

Desperation was by far the best book Stephen King has written. I loved Pet Cemetary, and Cujo, but this one tops them all! I picked it up and had to pry it from my hands. I really keeps u on the edge of your seat the whole time. A couple of times I found myself talking out loud, like the characters could actually hear me. The way the characters are portrayed, makes u care for them. That makes the book even better, when u can feel the characters fear. Overall, the book is wonderful, and exhilarating. I would say it is a success, or at least in my eyes. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a up to the minute thriller

This book took me awhile to read, mostly because i had to go back and read a few pages over in order to understand the ending. Stepher King confuses me when he jumps back and forth, but by the end, it all makes sense and that's what makes me keep reading it, you want to see what happens to that guy or whatever, but you have to read 3 more chapters before you can find out. It's neverending, but I personally liked it. The gore and visualizations were amazing, I could see it in my mind and I could smell what he described, I was blown away. The book was great, I'd love to read it again.

Before listening to Deperation on tape I never really cared for any of King's works because I thought they were somewhat shallow (probably because I "only saw the movie"). After Desperation (AD) I was amazed at the depth of King's thought process and how he makes your mind work overtime just trying to surmise what is ahead for the characters. This story kept me on the edge of my seat while driving in commute traffic and actually kept me in my car in the company parking lot until the story came to a break. Kathy Bates did a superb job in recording this story, making it even more enjoyable.

I gave up on Stephen King after reading the hardcover edition of GERALD'S GAME when it first came out. I hated all that supernatural stuff that he threw in that had nothing to do with the story, which started out as a great psychological tale and should have stayed that way. So I decided I would give him another chance and picked up DESPERATION. What a mistake! This book was awful. Nothing like the Stephen King of years ago. I had to force myself to finish it. It's clear that this book went straight from manuscript to finished book. Ugh!!!! It's going to be another few years before I pick up a new book by Stephen King!

This book is very suspenesful with enough imagery to make it seem like your watching a movie in your mind. This is definetely one of Stephen's best work but not for anybody that can't handle bad language and pretty nasty details.

Something is very wrong in the little desert town called Desperation. Something-is waiting.... Is it the psychotic giant cop named Collie Eneurgen? Is it responsible for the abnormal behavior of the numerous snakes, buzzards, coyotes, and spiders that people the deserted town? Join Stephen King on an unforgettable journey through a world too horrifying to be imagined.

And, if nothing else, this book will make you think twice about stopping for a police car on a lonely road....

Plan a trip to Desparation...I promise, you won't forget it.

I have been an avid Stephen King reader for many years. I started with "The Stand" which I thought was great. However, of the 30 or so books of his I've read, "Desperation" takes the cake! I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. It is typical King with stories of multiple characters and the back and forth thru time scenario. But it is the most INTENSE book of his that I've read. You find yourself losing track of time and wanting to stay awake until you finish the book. It is definitely "on the edge of your seat" reading. I recommend anyone, Stephen King fan or not, to read this book.

Stephen King once again presents a long and detailed story of the all but deserted mining town of Desperation. Set in the desert mountains, rage, torment, sex and violence abounds with a smattering of religion. A dark and mesmerizing adventure worth the investment of your time and concentration.

I have only read a few of Stephen King's books, but Desperation is the best book I have read yet. The characters are well written, and I simply loved the character of Collie Entragian. The humor and cynicism (sp?) in the book was a surprise. I definitely recommend this book. I hope the movie does the book justice. I don't want to give too much away, but for those who have already read Desperation, my only complaint is that a certain character ended up all alone in the end. Other than that, reading Desperation was an incredible ride. My only fear is that the next Stephen King book I read will not be as good as Desperation.

FINALLY!!!! He gets back to the style that made me start reading him 15 (!) years ago.
A great read. Like every one else (almost) has said. Classic King with the battle between Good and Evil.
My opinion: SKIP the Regulators. "Desperation" is a better, creepier story line. I went out a bought and read "The Regulators right after reading "Desperation" -- the juxtaposition of characters was confusing and a big let down.

Realizing there is a lucrative market for this genre of writing and thus ample reward for churning out books like "Desperation", I nonetheless am disappointed that there wasn't more substance and depth...especially when compared to King's great early novels. To my thinking everything about this book is thin (well, except for the excessive number of pages generated by large margins, large fonts, and plenty of blank pages, all the better to justify its hefty list price, I suppose)... the plot, the characters, it just has a feeling of being churned out rather mindlessly. I think it's one of the worst, if not *the* worst pieces King has produced. Dare I hope there is another Stand, The Dead Zone, The Shining, in him to write? One can hope, at least, there aren't more Desperations.

I discovered this tattered paperback at a rental cottage at the beach last month. One of the few SK novels I have not read. I ended up spending most of my vacation reading this book instead of doing the things I planned to do at the beach.
Great read! Loved it!

Well, we have seen Stephen King grow and change. I am not knocking, we all change but...
I am a Jesus Freak who checks out the Devil by reading about him (Tak ah la) and was ecstatic to find that God played such a heavy line in one of S.K.s books which proved something we all should know: God kicks ass! I sure hope S.K. brings the Main Star into more of his books.
As for Desperation, the setting was so real I'm off for a holiday to find the town.
One thing, we find that S.K. has chosen yet again to have a writer as one of the main characters. Remind you of anyone?

This is the book that I'm currently reading right now. I just wandered into boarders, while I was upset, and started rumaging through the stephen king section. Right from the first page I was hooked. It just draws you in and it keeps the suspense level at an all time high. It's really a great read.

This book was great.

It's one of those books that makes you want to see a movie based on it.

It's got a cool atmosphere/setting, some cool characters and the villain's history and origin is explained enough to keep a '?' from appearing over reader's heads.

Yes, it's got good vs evil, but what doesn't?

Yes, it's got a character that acts unusually calm and collected during intense extremes... is this impossible? Hell no.

Proof = Michael Jordan, he performed terrific during intense extremes. Yes, it's totally possible.

Everyone that's successful has the common belief that what they want or understand is going to happen. If one strays from this belief, even for a second, you mess up and fail.

The character in the story obviously has an unalterable belief, that's why he succeeded.

SO WHAT? THIS IS FICTION! Even if there's some sort of super calm/collected individual or super force in the book, it doesn't matter and it doesn't need to be explained... IT'S FICTION. The fictional world is relatively all accepting, meaning everything someone comes up with is true and possible in this world. If you expect reality when reading fiction, you're pretty strange.

You big babies, if you want something to critique, step into the non fiction world and actually find something concrete to prove.

It had been quite some time since I had read a book by Mr. King and I had forgotten what he was capable of when on top of his game. This book is a masterpiece and would be the crowning achivement of lesser writers' careers. King is a master of taking seemingly ordinary situations and turning the world he has created upside down while still keeping the believability quotient high. Although the book is long, it holds your interest throughout. I would highly recommend it whether you are a King fan or not.

This book starts out STRONG! From the beginning it grips you like a vise. The middle is very, very suspenseful, but I was dissatisfied with the explanation behind what was happening. Perhaps I have read too many King Novels and see the ending before it gets there. Too familiar with the writer. Maybe I just didn't like the ending. Honestly, I thought the book was EXCELLENT...until King EXPLAINED what the thing was. Once he did that, it seemed like the mystery was gone and I had no desire to continue on with the story...I did though. I love this man, he is a master.

OK, let me put this straight, I didn't think this was a bad story. But I didn't find it as astonishing as I usually do when it comes to King's books. To be honest, I haven't really liked any of his novels since Needful Things. But still I read every single one, as soon as they come out, trying to find that old KING-feeling, but...
Read Dean Koontz instead, at least he's still got the touch...

Stephen King should be best author of the year. He has a wild imagination. I enjoy reading his novels because he is very detailed with his writing. Its like a mini movie screen in your brain while you are reading. This book is very interesting and confusing at times but you need to know whats going on. This novel switches scenes and writes about dreams people have. I would recommend this novel to people who have strong stomachs because it will blow you away. People with a great imagination should definitely read this novel.

I THOUGHT THAT THIS BOOK WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST BOOKS KING HAS WRITTEN. I LOVE READING HIS WORK AND IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS ONE, I WILL ONLY TELL YOU THAT IT IS ONE TO READ ON A WEEKEND. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I WAS DRAWN IN AS IF I WAS A CHARACTER. KING DOES A GREAT JOB OF KEEPING THE SUSPENSE IN THE AIR. YOU WILL BE ON EDGE WONDERING IF THE PRISONERS WILL GET OUT OF THIS TOWN, AND IF SO WILL THEY BE CARRIED OUT OR WILL THEY WALK OUT? WHO IS THE NEXT VICTIM? I ENCOURAGE YOU TO EITHER BUY OR BORROW THIS BOOK, YOU WILL BE AMAZED!

This book is absolutely amazing. It is a true testament to the writings of Stephen King. From the first page, the thrills are evident. Not a page was turned that I was "NOT" on the edge of my seat. There aren't too many books that make me lie awake in bed after reading it, wondering what was waiting for me in the darkness.....but this one did. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is considering reading a King novel for the first time. It will definitely get you hooked: without a doubt.

This book was so much darker, and better than I expected it to be. I thought it might be good, but ... WOW. Mr. King knocked it out of the park with this one. One of the best opening scenes he has ever written.

I'm a huge fan of Stephen King and I've read quite a few of his books but "Desperation" was by far my favorite. From the front cover to the last page I was kept on the edge of my seat and always wanting more. There wasn't a single slow part to the book, the entire thing flowed perfectly. King really goes into in-depth descriptions of scenes and settings, in my mind I could picture Desperation and it's inhabitants. Though this book might not be for the weak of stomach or weak of mind (What King book is?) I thought it was superb. I would recommend it to anyone.

...modern Stephen King I have read.
It has VERY well-developed characters, settings, and overtones. The plot is well developed, you learn the right amount at the right time. Moreover, the deep religious tones make give the book good morals.
Stephen King does it again...

No one writes a better opening chapter than Stephen King, and "Desperation" has one of the best, most truly frightening, of any I've read.
Unfortunately, S.K. also has a tendency to start bouncing off the walls midway through the tale, and that's precisely what happens here. The sense of menace quickly dissipates once you realize the nature of the beast, and that's revealed way too soon. I would have liked a little more restraint, a little less gore, and a lot less laughing by the characters at lines that are painfully unfunny.

Definately not his best work. If your a fan of Stephen King you may enjoy his very untraditional charcters in this book. Definately a change (but not a positive one) for Stephen King. If you've never read King don't pick this book, instead try "The Stand." Desperation read as a desperate attempt by King to simply complete a new book.

what was going on in this book. I am a NEW READER OF STEVEN'S books. The first one was Bag of Bones which I liked very much. It was a page turner and the description of the characters, the medaphores, and action was superb.

My second book was his memoir's titled On Writing by Stephen King. This book was a story of his life up to his accident that was one-third of the book and the balance for writers on how he writes.

Now be careful there are at least two very different versions of the memoirs with the same title. One is very good , the other marginal.

Now about Desperation I was on page 448 before I finally found out what was going on in the book. I knew I was missing a lot but not just sure what I was missing. I kept reading and got more and more confussed.

I am also fairly sure that a lot of Stephen's fans missed the point also.

Now I must go back and read the story again. I must have missed half of the story.

THe secret is the two characters not really described who do not appear in any of his other books, CAN AND TAK.

I had to go to WIKIPEDIA to find out what the book was all about. I suggest every one read the analyis of the book and then read it over again.

Although I found this book reasonably satisfying, it does not stand comparison with some of his greatest work, such as The Stand and The Shining. The ridiculous practice of naming the characters as in The Regulators (which I read first), prevents the reader from forming a clear image of each person in the book. I have found King's books a strange mixture over the past few years; from the excellence of Rose Madder and The Green Mile to the mediocrity of Gerald's Game and The Regulators. I hope that we have not seen the best of Stephen King.

This is a very exciting book. Though it has a slow start. I advise you if you read it you may want to sit down and read it all. The most exciting part in the book would have to be when David passes out and the young Marinville tells him everything he needed to know about Tak. Tak is this unusual charecter in the book he is not a person but not a spirit. I would probably descride him as a god. Tak tries to take over the town of Desperation by getting into someones body and while he is in that persons body he tries to kill everyone. Another way he killed people was he had little stone statues that are shaped as snakes, wolfs, scorpions, spiders, and sometimes eagles, also know as can taks. People would come across them they were somehow attracted to them and picked them up. After they would pick them up they would grow about a foot taller because of Tak. They would also turn on anyone that they came up to even if they were their friends. The main characters in the book are Johnny Marinville, David, God, Ralph, Tak, and Mary. This book has a odd ending but I beileve the rising action is more exciting than any other point in the book. I would recomend this book for anyone who likes a scare and who doesn't mind gory details. This book is also very detailed. Of course, Stephen King does write very detailed books.

How do you describe this book? Well, if hyou haven't already got it...GET IT!!! This is by far one of the best books i have read. I know The Regulators was published along side Desperation but The Regulators disappointing. Takes a whie to get into it. In my opinion Desperation is one of Stephen's finest achievements. Great plot. Great characters. Great story line. Keeps you engrossed. Superb book. Buying it is money well spent. ...

This book kept me riveted. Desperation is an intense tripthrough the supernatural. However, the action was a little tooslow-paced. King told the story through several points of view and so a great deal of the pages were devoted to telling the story from these individual perspectives. It also seemed far too convenient to make Tak such a weak enemy. Too much of the book seemed to be devoted to unnecessary details. I've read most of Stephen King's novels and short stories and I must say that Desperation ranks in the top 3.

I'm only fifteen years old, and this is only the second Stephen King novel I've ever read (the first being "Bag of Bones"), but, in my humble opinion, I don't see how it could get much better than this. This book pulled me in, made me feel like a part of the story, and like I knew the characters as if they were my closest friends. Everyone says that Stephen King's earlier work is better than this, but I don't see how it could get better. However, if it is, I can't wait to get my hands on the early stuff.

I love stephen King books and movies.I collect them all,he is my favorite onlong with Dean Koonez.I have most all of his movies and books and some audio tapes.I perfer the audio tapes but are to expenive....I would love to met King,I think he is the greatest,I will be moving to New Hampshire soon,and I know he lives in Main.hopefully he will have a book signing or something ,then I can met him..good going Stephen King,keep them books coming.I get them as soon as they come out.and can harldy waite for the next one.

Stephen King is not usually my cup of tea but I have to admit he's a master writer and Desperation is King at the top of his form. The plot is tight and well-paced, the characters fully drawn and the setting absolutely perfect. The dialogue goes without saying--it is King at his best, writing in that folksy voice that is as perfect as Mozart. This is a tale of flat-out supernatural horror with a moralistic theme, yet King is never preachy. For those who love Stephen, he doesn't get much better than this.

My best friend detoured all visitors I had while I read this book. I was so into it I ignored everyone who spoke to me for two days. Getting to the final page was definitely worth offending my friends.

This was King at his finest! A plus plus!

This is one of the King's classics. I rank it up there with the Dark Tower books and The Talisman, as his essential novels.
This is about the lonely empty mining town Desolation, in Nevada. And the many people who are forced together under unfortunate and terrible circumstnaces. You see, Collie Entragien is a psycho cop (who is possessed by Tak, a demon). He stops passersby and forces them into this dead town.
And thus starts the epic battle between God and Satan. Through the power of their faith and belief (and the little boy who holds most of it), most of these prisoners are able to overcome their foe from hell.
This book is very well written, suspenssseful, and entertaining. The author proves that even hacks themselves can have classics. And this is one of them.

As a writer, I absolutely hated this book. You must have an incredible suspension of disbelief in order to even begin to like it. Using the "God" device became highly repetitive and even more highly predictable, even worse than the Wesley Crusher syndrome. The rest of the book was fairly well constructed until it came to the end, when it looks to me as if King suddenly realized the deadline was tomorrow and had to tie it up too quickly. He has the potential to be a classic author if he'll only stick to short stories.

"Desperation" and "The Regulators" are two wonderful examples of Stephen King's attention to detail and his insight into the human psyche. In "Desperation", King touches upon religion in a way that can unite all readers, regardless of their personal beliefs. Through the eyes of a "gifted" child, King takes the reader on a journey of horror and redemption. Without attempting to analyze or reason, my favorite author both terrifies me and gives me hope.... He is the master

Reading Desperation right after "The Green Mile" left me expecting more. I think that Mr. King has no brought us an interesting cast of characters. His discussion of how the evil forces influenced and effected them was well-done. The beginning of the book was even scary. Sadly, the last third of the book loses momentum and could have been better. Never does it approach the epic proportion of The Stand as advertised. Yet it is not a bad read. Wait for the paperback and buy it through the store Books

It was refreshing to take a vacation, even if the trip was to Stephen King's Desperation, Nevada. It had seemed that King's best work was clearly far behind him, but Desperation is a fantastic comeback. It's not scary, but it overflows with suspense. It's weird, and a lot of questions end up unanswered, but the conclusion is satisfactory. Once you've read this, pick up The Regulators, which King wrote under his pseudonym Richard Bachman.

I had forgotten that I'd read this book before, however, I still read the entire thing again, and enjoyed it. Interesting inclusion of the religious theme, and a few surprises along the way. King fans will not be disappointed.

Stephen King did it again! Just when I thought he could never write anything that would match "It" and "The Stand"... Boy, was I wrong! "Desperation" is really one of his best books and desrves an Honourable place with the classics: "It", "The Stand", "The Shining", "Pet Sematary" and, yes, "DESPERATION". P.S.A true King's fan shouldn't complain and those who hate King will hate him even more! It's one of his finest ever!

I've read everything King (and Bachman) have written. It's like a roller coaster ride. Up with The Stand and The Green Mile and down with Insomnia and Desperation. If you like otherworldly creepy crawlies and murky monsters, this book will probably appeal to you. I like my evil/horror in a more realistic package. I bought The Regulators when I was about halfway through Desperation. It's gone to the bottom of the reading pile. I'll get to it eventually, but I've got better things to read right now

A typical Stephen King book. A bit different from the movie. He wanders around in the plot a lot and gets lost sometimes in side stories (verbal diahrrea). If you can scan past the excess there is a good book in here somewhere.

this had to be the best book i have read all year...the book was well written...i recommend this book to any person that like suspense....there were days where i couldnt put the book down...the writer leaves you wanting to know what was going to happen next...excellent .......A MUST READ.......

A spiritual trek down route 66 through the state of Nevada seemed like the perfect honeymoon to me until I read this book. King sparkles with some of his past magic in this terrific return to form. More graphic than past King, but not without reason. However, I too was puzzled by what point King was attempting to make about God and religion. I think he's pretty undecided. Anyway, no trapsing through the desert for me. Nevada is creepy enough without these images in the back of my mind.

This book is kind of long it took me about 4 days to read but I loved it. Its very suspensful and creepy. I enjoyed it so much I ordered the regulators which is related to it in some way, I'm very anxious to read it.

This is my first Stephen King book that I've ever read (besides Green Mile) and neeedless to say, he lives up to all of his hype. The book began with the story of a deranged cope, and took you all the way through the demonic spirit "Tak" and his ability to conquer anyone and anyting. The hero of the story is a young 11 year old boy, who lets us know that anyone can be a hero. This has made me a Stephen King fanatic and I'm onto my next book, The Shining. He's got it all!

Ok, I read some of the reviews ppl gave Mr. King but I have to say those who just read this book and no other book by Mr. King and gave it a bad review need to get a life. Ok, I mean yea every author has their bad novels and trust me this isn't it. If you know king he likes to try different things not just one kind of story idea (horror). His best novel to me is Dolores Claiborne though I hate the movie. Pick up that book. I know he can't impress everyone but those who he can't impress are thick headed snobs.

I have always been a King supporter, having read just about every book the man has written. His most recent works, however have left me a little cold. I decided to pick up "Desperation" thinking that it might be more like his "old style" of writing. Boy Oh Boy, was I right. This story ranks right up there with some of his best. His characters are well developed, and the plot keeps you wanting to stay up into the late hours reading. Great read, I highly recommend it!

Desperation:The title says it all. It is a book written by a best selling novelist, Stephen King. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. You can feel the characters fear and their pain. If you are ready for suspense and terror, it is a must read book. This book is about a huge tale of a small town and the unbelievable things the people who may pass through, will have to go through in order to survive. I highly recommend this novel. You won't be able to put it down.

I have never been of the opinion that Stephen King is a "horror writer". Novels like The Body (Stand By Me), The Long Walk, (Rita Hayworth and) The Shawshank Redemption and Misery, are not exactly what you would call horror. Mostly his tales are dark, some more than others. This is one of those that we can classify as pretty damn dark. And excellent with it.

There are some novels where, when you reach the end, you feel a kind of sorrow. For me, this was one of those... Deep, spiritual, a truly excellent novel.

I have read both old and new King and this very book Desperation is in the top percentile right up there with The Dead Zone and The Stand. Though not quite up there with The Stand but it is close enough to be mentioned right along with that classic.

The fact that is was released realitvly late in Kings career is definetly something to be praised.

I am not sure if it is wise to compare these two books. The evil spirit Tak seems to be the common theme in both books, but I suppose, King could author many more books based on this Tak. Individually both books rate high on plot, action and readability. Desperation though seems to bring out the true essence of Tak via transformations and symbolism. In desperation, I found an uneasy comparison between Christianity and Islam through David and Tak--"tak ah wan- tak ah lah?

OMG I couldn't get past about the 5th chapt. This is true torture. Mr. King, I am a avid reader of your books. I don't mind a bit dark. This is repulsive. Right up there with Cujo.
Why don't you throw this in the fire and go back to Gunslinger. Finish what you've started. This was awful.

i'll just say that this book was so good i fell asleep on it because i couldn't put it down. i was entranced by the horror in such a way that, when someone knocked on my door, i jumped and almost fell out of bed. read it and have a blast being afraid!

I admit that I'm not much of a Steven King fan, or even a horror fan for that matter. I've only *attempted* to read a couple other novels of his (just couldn't follow through), so I'm not all too familiar with his writing. However, at the advice of a friend, I decided to give Desperation a shot.
It seemed to begin much like any other horror novel -- a bunch of ordinary folk serving as prey for some great evil -- but after the introductions were all made, the book changed into something I would describe more as a science fiction story. There are still horror aspects there, as the characters are essentially preyed upon, but they are far from helpless.
The story stays nicely grounded as well, not venturing too far into total science fiction. The characters stay believable, for the most part, although a few of the characters do lack any real depth. This is offset by a couple truly compelling characters though.
Also, I found of particular interest the role that God plays in the book. It presents an interesting theory and actually made me stop and ponder more than once, so there is at least moderate depth in there...
All in all, as I assume is true of most of King's work, Desperation's true strength is it's entertainment value. It becomes very gripping and, although one will likely be able to predict the end, there are enough things happening to keep you interested up until the final page.

I discovered this tattered paperback at a rental cottage at the beach last month. One of the few SK novels I have not read. I ended up spending most of my vacation reading this book instead of doing the things I planned to do at the beach.
Great read! Loved it!

Desperation is a town in Nevada; it is also how people with unbelief feel. Something frightful and wicked has been released in the Nevada desert that had lain dormant for almost 150 years. How do you describe a force that takes joy in evil for the sheer pleasure of it? The plot moves fast from the beginning, with the horror starting from almost the opening pages, and the suspense grows with the turning of each page (I stayed up past midnight reading multiple nights). Once again King mixes story lines from past and present to reveal all the facts. The story grows and the scope of wickedness widens as you read. I found the novel to be very entertaining and recommend it to anyone who enjoys Stephen King.

I picked this up and thought it was grotesquely huge! Still, I read it and wow! What a crazy story but I loved it so much.I love Stephen King, but most of his books are much too detailed sometimes and filled with what I consider fluff. He did not disappoint me here!

When I picked up this book, I saw that it shared many characters and plot ideas with Richard Bachman's "The Regulators". I was curious, and bought it. GREAT CHOICE! If you've ever wanted a good strange, suspenseful novel, get this book! The characters capture your interest the way you want in a good story. The tale is carefully woven, and plot twists abound. Many books have a shocker at the end; this has them every chapter, which you might expect from King. This would be a great book for most people. I have a few suggestions though. If you are extremely uncomfortable with violence and/or profanity, you may want something else. The violence IS the story; without it, there's little. However, the profanity is gratuitous. But what can I say, it's 2000 and that's alright these days. And they don't take away too much, so it's a good read nonetheless. One thing I also want to say: Many reviewers of "Regulators" were disappointed...they said it wasn't as good as "Desperation". So I suggest you do as I did; buy both, but read "Regulators" first! It's also excellent, and it gets your interest very high; then you read "Desperation" and things get even better! One warning: if you get so engrossed in the book you can't put it down (not too impossible), seek help. It'll be there when you get back. I hope you enjoy these books. I know I did.

Desperation is no Stand, but not many works are. With that said, I liked this book. King gets too wordy, but he has been doing that for about 15 years, so I kind of expect it anymore. What he does well, however, is develop scenes that stick in your mind, and characters that you really feel you know.

Some of the stuff in Desperation is truly creepy, and he throws in the kind of gore that makes your skin crawl. The first hundred pages or so legitimately freaked me out, and I was hooked from there. The plot doesn't have that 'epic' feel a book this long should, but I still don't think you will feel let down by the end...worth reading if you like this kind of stuff.

DESPERATION---3 STARS

Desperation is a great book. This book is long, full of blood, violence, and pure HORROR!!!!!! I read reviews on here from other customers, and I hate it when they explain what happens in the book......I will NOT spoil anything for those who have not read it.....i will say this though....if this book had not had any religious factor to it, I think it could have SOARED......the direction this book took mid-way thru kind of pissed me off, the first 300 pages were pretty INTENSE!. After that, Good VS Evil.....God VS Devil....I HATED that!!!!! Made the book kind of boring and pretty much the same stuff that's been done to death....to be honest, I couldn't wait till read the last page, not because I wanted to see what happens, but because I just wanted it to be over.....SO CLOSE BUT YET SO FAR

Last fall, I had a little time on my hands to kill and I decided to stop by the library. I picked up the Stephen King book Hearts in Atlantis. I brought it home and finished reading it. I was intrigued. However, I was perplexed-this was my first Stephen King book-and I didn't find it to be all that horrifying. Anyway, I read Pet Sematary, just to be sure, and halfway through I was hooked. In October, at Border's Books and Music, I purchased Desperation. I read a few pages when I got home, and I found myself unable to put it down. This is by far his best book I have read so far. The setting is in the lonely town of Desperation, Nevada. Entragian, or Tak, the evil spirit who has taken his body, is out to rule the world.
Steve Ames and Cynthia stumble upon a horrific scene as they follow Steve's boss into Desperation. The Carvers, Mary Jackson, Jonny Marinville, and Steve Ames and Cynthia are now trapped, and Tak is getting angrier by the minute. How will they survive?
I strongly reccomend this book to anyone with a strong stomach. (You'll know why when you read it) There's a twist and turn every other page. You'll find yourself reading this book all night!
You won't be able to put it down! Guarenteed!

Good versus evil. That is this book in a nutshell. The cast of good characters pitted against almost insurmountable odds. Against an evil presence that consumes and kills. Pretty standard for a Stephen King Novel. There are many references to the killings in this novel and many ways of death. Again, typical of King. One thing that was not typical of King was the power and presence of God. In this novel it is God's will that people survive and it is God's will that evil will lose. The suspense is engrossing from the first page to the last. You grow to feel for the characters and most of all you HATE the villain, the unformed entity TAK. Most horror novels have a villain that you can't get behind and loathe. There is no worry for that in this book, TAK is pure evil on paper and it is easy it hate it. Which makes the ending (which is a little predictable) more uplifting. All in all this is a fine read which failed to get 5 stars only because I have read a few too many horror novels and could see cliches littering the pages.
Thanx for your time. T

This book has it all--great scares, awesome characters, fantastic setting and a really great theme. I love books by Stephen King, but this one really stood out to me as one of his best. Maybe not as good as "The Stand" or "Duma Key", but it is definately my favorite. Even if you're new to SK, pick this one up first.

This is one of King's more graphic, horror books (like Pet Semetary). It surrounds a bunch of characters that were driving down Interstate 50 in Nevada and were unfortunate enough to be pulled over by a menacing cop. They are then taken to the town Desperation and all hell breaks loose. I thought this book was really good and pretty scary, some of the images are truly frightening. The reason it doesn't get more stars is that in the middle (for me) it was a little slower compared to the begining and end. But I still did really enjoy it. There's some religious overtones as well but not so much that it becomes cumbersome. Overall I think this is really interesting and scary book and I think it's a must read for horror/King fans!

Quantity is not quality and some ideas would be better condensed into a short story or novelette,
rather than stretched into a full length novel. DESPERATION, which starts out well with its theme of a good guy turned bad sherrif picking up unwary travellors, quickly loses the plot and degenerates into a farce where characters we neither know or care about are killed off by a monster which is neither believable or frighening. The last 100 pages or so are, in my opinion, quite unreadable, unlike the companion "Bachman" novel THE REGULATORS which starts out as a mediocre novel and remains mediocre (and just about readable) right up to the end. One of the worst aspects of both these books is instead of a long build up to the central horror of the book (cf PET SEMATORY & THE SHINING) King gets stuck into the violence right away - but without the buildup we never come to care about the characters who are killed, so the potential impact is lost. This is particularly sad as there are no shortage of lesser horror writers who introduce a constant stream of one-dimensional characters whose only role is to be killed off on the next page, in some particularly gruesome way.

I really regret that I parted with hard cash to pay for both DESPERATION and THE REGULATORS. Next time Stephen King publishes a novel, no matter how favourable the reviews, I'll wait to borrow a friend's copy or a library one. By the way I note that that there is no fore or after- word from the author in either of these books - I wonder if this signifies a sense of shame at foisting this second-rate work on his faithful readers?

The book was one of three Steven King books that i've read. I personaly was thrild to read a book that was so inspiering to my own reilgos interest. Desperation was the first book that I've read that has ever done that, and I am glad I had a chace to have experionsed it. The insperation that the book gave me was one I will never forget, it both interiged me as well as arosed my thouths, and interist

one of stephen king's best. how can anyone give this anything other than 5 stars? and what's with the 1 and 2 stars? this is an exciting and gory book. the story is amazing and feels like you're actually a character in it. that's how deep it is. get this book because it's frickin sweet.

"Desperation", is classic King. The book is an emotional rollercoaster with horror at every turn. Not only does King battle good over evil, but also puts a new perspective on your own spirituality, and beliefs. The battle has begun in "Desperation", figuritively and literally, with David and Johnny at the front lines. This book is definitely movie material.

In my lifetime, I have enjoyed more than one novel by King, but this one surely doesn't belong to the category. An easy, straight-forward horror story could be very entertaining if the man wouldn't load his storyline with religious righteousness and general pro-American crap. Also the book goes on much too long, given the amount of ideas it includes. In the end, King's black-and-white goody-goodness really started to piss me off. Blah.

of course this book's better than Regulator but it's still doesn't make any sense. i know it suppose to be scary but it turns out to be boring. from my point of view, this book seems like just repeating itself and Stephen King's just adding words, phases, sentances, paragraph to make the story longer and fill in those pages.

I have enjoyed many of Stephen King's books. This is not one of them. This book was put together like a recipe of typical King books. Take one part kid with special powers, one author with troubled past, one unknown evil. Place characters in deserted town and see what happens. The only reason why I finished it was because I thought something interesting might happen. Gues what? It didn't.

This was my first Stephen King book and it deffenitly won me over. I rarely read, but I found myself not being able to put it down. Desperation is a small town off a desolate strip of the interstate. A psyco sheriff kills all of the people in the town, I'm not going to give away anymore, but you should take my word for it and pick up this gem. "It's Phat!"

This is the first book by King I ever read, and it has sparked me to read many others. There is not much I can say about this book except it is one of King's best, if not the best. Also the villian in this book ranks right up there with Flagg(the Stand, Eyes of the Dragon, Dark Tower sereis). Desperation is must read for anyone and everyone, even if you don't like King's work.

So far I've read 5 sk novels and this is my least favorite. It has gory details and parts that make you shiver(from the gore) but thats about it. That cop gave me the creeps at first but then it wore off fast! There were to many things to remember, like con tas,can taks,can cans, & can tamatoes. good details but it dosen't make this one a top contender with other ones i've read

I was very impressed with this novel. It was very suspensfull, and chillingly scary. King's tradition of good versus evil is well intact in this story. However, I share some critics belief that it is a little too far fetched. I mean, it's somewhat fake and leads some readers to think: "this isn't real!" But, it's a very good book and I recomend it to anyone! Enjoy!

From the beginning to the end, this book had me on edge. The image of blood coming out of Collie Entragian, then Ellen Carver was very graphic and gross, but all was in accordance to Tak's demeanor. The history of the China Pit really brings the entire book to light because you go throughout the whole story wonders why Collie is as crazy as he is. Then you realize, it wasn't Collie, it was Tak

Plan and simple, I loved this book. King truly is the King. His use of language is so intricate and beautifully woven that one so easily becomes entranced in the story. Through his gift of the written word, King is able to "suck" us into the world of Collie Entragian and his victims desperate struggle to survive. A most have for any true King fan.

Stephen king dilivers the good in this fast pased dessert horror show. i do believe that this is the finest arrangement of kings dark imagination. punch arter punc Desperation is a heart pounding story of spirts that refuse to rest. I feel like im on reading rainbow but i highly recomend this book to anybody who wants to travel to the darkes space the human (mabey) can go.

This noval was greatly written with the colorful adjectives of sounds smells and the touch of something out of the ordinary. I give this grip taking thriller two thumbs up. Not only did it give me nightmare's of the sheriff but I never want to go driving through Nevada. Especially if I come to a town really called Desperation. Over all it was a great and scary story.

This book is an apt example to justify Mr King's rise to the top. His characters are described so vividly you either think you know them already or at least you are sure of the guy who should play him in Hollywood. It commands your attention in the first 5 pages and you won't put it down til it's done.....

I'm not a critic and I've never given a review before (especially online) but this is one book I will never forget. It was absolutely chilling and the best book I have yet to read. I can not believe how incredible this book was and i recomend it to anyone and everyone who enjoys Stephen King. I even recomend it to people who have never read a Stephen King book before.

I'm not usually a big fan of Steven King. I think he sets up interesting stories and characters, but his ending usually leave something to be desired. That was not the case this time. The story was pretty creepy, and thought-provoking. The characters were intriguing, and the ending did not disappoint.

don't read the editorial reviews above. They give away far too much about this book! Desperation is a great story. It tells of several different groups of people: a writer, a widowed wife (you'll find out why), a touring family, and three others-all of whom wind up in the town of Desperation: a seemingly deserted town that herolds a deadly secret: it isn't deserted. The group of survivors, rounded together in the police building by a crazy cop that can't seem to stop bleeding, must now try to escape with their lives before the enraged police officer can track them down and gut them (well, that's basically what he has done to everyone else in the town). I won't say too much more, except to give it time. By the beggining of part 3, everything falls into place, and a rollercoaster of horror and suspense starts that you won't want to stop. Desperation isn't recommended for young people since not only is the profanity abundent, but the sexual (and homosexual) references are very clear and imperative. Steer clear if you can't handle descriptive "body parts".

This was a good book, but not spectacular. It start off great, it really pulls you in. The book moves along at a great pace. Some of the characters are good but for the most part they are very 2 dimensional. The villian is the most interesting character by far. The story was involving but in the end I felt unsatisfied. Questions were left unanswered and I felt a little cheated by the end. I wanted more explanation of what in the worl Tak was. Where did it come from. what was the deal with the figurines.
The book is entertaining and tense in alot of moments. I would of been much happier if I didn't feel there were so many loose ends. I have yet to read Regulators maybe that book will shine more light on the subject.

This was the first Stephen King book that I ever read. I saw it at a 2nd hand store and figured for $5 I couldn't go wrong. Well I have to say when I opened it that night after work I could not put it down! This book was amazing! The intese details paint a perfect picture. Definately a good read.

Something is very wrong in the little desert town called Desperation. Something-is waiting.... Is it the psychotic giant cop named Collie Eneurgen? Is it responsible for the abnormal behavior of the numerous snakes, buzzards, coyotes, and spiders that people the deserted town? Join Stephen King on an unforgettable journey through a world too horrifying to be imagined.

And, if nothing else, this book will make you think twice about stopping for a police car on a lonely road....

Plan a trip to Desparation...I promise, you won't forget it.

I have just finished reading this book, and I have to say it is one of my favorite Stephen King books of all time. It is highly suspensful, with amazing lovable good guys, and one of Stephen Kings best villians to date, even better then Randall Flagg. My only problem with it is that it is a little preachy, but thats the whole point of the story so I guess it has to be. It doesn't take away the great fun. And the begining chapters are probably the best in the book. Well, I think that is all that needs to be said. NUFF SAID

THE GREAT ETNEBOB HAS SPOKEN

Before I say anything, let me begin by saying that Stephen King is one of my favorite authors, and that IT may very well be my overall favorite novel (although I'm reading Jane Eyre right now, and it is climbing the ranks quickly...) These facts cannot, however, preclude me from critisizing Desperation. If you are the type of Stephen King fan that I am - one who appreciates his honesty, understanding of working-class America, and ability to brew characters to cry for - then you will want to skip Desperation, which ultimately plays out to be a blood bath broken record of Tak, tak, and more Tak (you'll understand if you don't heed my advice!) If you are new to King, and looking for a good book to start with, please consider 'Salem's Lot, IT, Hearts in Atlantis, Insomnia, The Stand, The Talisman, Different Seasons, The Shining, Tommyknockers, Bag of Bones, and, of course, The Dark Tower series (all representative of why we love Stephen King!)

.....but, after about 10 chapters I remembered why I quit reading King's work (after Misery), and put it down. Unbearable silliness. You would think that a mature author whom has mastered the art of the horror novel would eventually allow his sense of humor to mature also, but Mr. King has one of the most juvenile senses of humor of any author, in any genre, and it appears to be trapped in a 9 to 12 year old age bracket with no signs of ever maturing. So silly and unfunny is his humor, that it destroys any horror, suspense, or drama that he masterly brings forth. I don't consider myself to have an intellectual funnybone, but jeez, I do know the difference between silly and funny, and my ability to detect between the two caused me to put the book down...with no intentions of ever picking it (or his future work) up again.

Desperation marks a return of Stephen King to horror strictly for horror's sake with his usual touchs of the metaphysical and higher themes placed throughout but never getting in the way of the suspense which is driving the novel. For such a long book taking place in a single weekend, the plotting is wonderfully tight and efficient and designed for major thrills. The action begins immediately and never lets up. All of his favourite character types are there and he shows great pleasure in mixing them up (and also beating them up). King's horrors are the most fun with many different personalities showing the story from different vantage points. The classic and still the best King, 'Salem's Lot, is the best example of this and Desperation is a notable addition. Sadly, the Richard Bachman book, The Regulators, issued as a odd companion piece to Desperation is quite weak. For an exciting page turner, Desperation can not be be beaten.

Desperation was...well, GREAT! Stephen King has really written a page burner here. He returns to his old grounds with a supernatural horror/thriller but that is by far too simple of a description for what Desperation is. The book has a really great cast of characters who you really begin to care for and see some of each one in yourself. Also the way the King has set this book up is magnificent in that it fits together perfectly and delivers the story in a grand way that produces the great reading that I have now come to expect from King. I have read a handful of King's other books and I would have to say that this is my favorite. I enjoyed the Green Mile but I loved this one even more. I can't wait to get my hands on The Regulators. If you have ever read Stephen King and liked it then get this one. If you have never read one of his books this is a great place to start. Enjoy the addiction.

King's novels are worthy of the time you put in to reading them. I picked this up at my local library and the first time I put it down my husband picked it up and wouldn't give it back. I had to buy a copy just so I could finish it. My husband and I are big readers of King's works. Keep up the great work.

Desperation is King's greatest work (not including series) he has ever created, his ouevre. It is a tale of bloody debutchery, sex, Christianity, and of course, redemption. A queerincidence is that while reading the books in tandom, Regulators first and then Desperation, I was purged by two utterly physical reactions. At points King is so graphic in Regulators that my stomach, reeling, nearly exploded in a green-pea-soup of vomit. That being physical side-effect numero uno, during Desperation, I was so into the Johnny Marionville character that my heart sped up and my eyes gushed tears as the book ended. Juxtaposing these two emotions tells me that King has a knack for evoking reaction from his works. You cannot simply pick up a Kingian book, read it, then move along; he makes you think and makes you feel. Stephen King is one of the most provocative authors, truly gifted with a penchanct for great dialogue, surreal action, and cathartical closure. Desperation is his best.

I'd like to believe that this piece of work was written by someone other than Mr. King but put under his name. Apparently gone are the days of "The Stand", "Carrie", "The Shining", and "Pet Cemetary". I did enjoy the first few chapters but then it just bottomed out. One of two Stephen King books I put down as a waste of time. The other one was "The Regulators". My advice Mr. King is to take a vacation, put away your laptop, dust off the Royal typewriter, and give us some of that vintage King we all know you still have in you.

I must say that I really enjoyed this novel. It was a fast-paced, easy read with an interesting storyline. Only Stephen King can make a 12 hour period last for almost 600 pages. That may not leave much room for character developement, but he does give some interesting background on the characters that kind of gives you insight into what they're like. The end of the books gets really freaky when the truth of one character is revealed and the fate of all the rest is sealed. Desperation is an entertaining, scary book that will make you want to keep reading until the very end, just to see what will happen to the characters. Because really, the characters are very likable and I don't know about you, but I started to really care about what happened to them.
After you read this, I suppose you should read The Regulators, too. I haven't gotten around to that one yet, but I heard it really messes up your head!

Desperation is my favourite "stand alone" King novel to date. King's "Dark Tower" books are my favourite King books but Desperation is up there high on the list! It's a superior work to it's sister book "The Regulators" (which I personally enjoyed) written under the name of Richard Bachman and the writing and storytelling skills that king has pleanty of are on full display. It's a big novel, worth your time and very enjoyable.

If you love Stephen King you must read Desperation. It is quite long and probably could have been edited a bit more. That being said, it is one that will keep you awake at night. It is one of his more graphic so it is probably not for rookies but I loved it. Very original and very -well the title says it all.

This may actually be the worst King I've ever read. I'll grant that it keeps you turning pages early on. But after a while the obsession with sex gets a little annoying. Even if not his worst, it's certainly his most vulgar. Additionally, this one wraps up in what I've found to be usual King fashion. Far too quickly and with little of the suspense and fear that the story starts with. As is often the case with his stuff, I found myself just wanting to get through the last 100 pages. Just to get it over with. It left me feeling cheated.

I find it hard to believe that people find anything of value in this book (or most of what King publishes). Skeleton Crew was good as was a few of his earlier books, but James Joyce this guy is not. I suggest that instead of spending time reading endless pages of drivel you take a new look at your college reading assignments.

It was refreshing to take a vacation, even if the trip was to Stephen King's Desperation, Nevada. It had seemed that King's best work was clearly far behind him, but Desperation is a fantastic comeback. It's not scary, but it overflows with suspense. It's weird, and a lot of questions end up unanswered, but the conclusion is satisfactory. Once you've read this, pick up The Regulators, which King wrote under his pseudonym Richard Bachman.

This was King at one of his best. I loved the book and think anyone who likes Stephen King will love this book. As my title states, if you don't like this book then your are simple not a Stephen King fan...

Alright, about two years ago I picked up both "The Regulators" and "Desperation" at a local book store because my friend suggested them to me. I decided to read "The Regulators" first for some unknown reason and was slighty confused by the plot but none-the-less enjoyed it, although not throughoutly. Then I started reading Desperation and made it through about 150 pages before I stopped reading it and started reading some book by Dean Koontz. Now, here I am two years later. About a month ago I picked up Desperation again and I fell in love with the sick, yet satisfying story-line and amazinly complex characters. I dont know why I never found Desperation so boring two years earlier(maybe it was because I was only 13 and didnt understand the concepts completly.) Anyway, I suggest this great book to anyone looking for a book that will churn your stomach, disturb your dreams, and then make you beg for more. Bravo King.

Above all, the book is poorly written. The plot is formulaic and forgettable. The author's attempt to be suspenseful and scary fell flat. I'm not a Stephen King reader but I was sorely disappointed by this book.

The book is bit wordy, but keeps you turning the pages as fast as your heart is racing. King creates imagery that paints every scene for you in detail. If you are reading or have read the Dark Tower Series, it is a must that you read this book if you haven't yet.

I've always felt the first fifty pages were a little slow as King introduced the characters, but upon re-reading the book I saw the real genius in what King did with his "slow build" approach. It's not even that slow. This is classic King. If you feel like he isn't "horror-fying" enough anymore, you need to read Desperation. The Regulators is also very good, but I recommend you read Desperation first.

The story is set in a once thriving copper mining town called Desperation, only now it appears to be eerily deserted.
From the first page,
"Oh! Oh, Jesus! Gross!"...
..."On that sign. That speed-limit sign...There was a dead cat on it...nailed there..."
this book had me hooked. Great characters, each with recognisable traits. I found myself not being able to stop reading...HAVING to know what was going to happen, yet as I got nearer to the end of the book I didn't want it to end.
An excellent book which I also found theologically thought provoking.

I'm not usually a big fan of Steven King. I think he sets up interesting stories and characters, but his ending usually leave something to be desired. That was not the case this time. The story was pretty creepy, and thought-provoking. The characters were intriguing, and the ending did not disappoint.

I was somewhat nervous about buying this book, after seeing Stephen King slowly disappear behind a curtain of Hollywood and allowing his writing style to do the same, but I was actually impressed. While there were basic flaws in some of the character development and the ending was not nearly as climatic as it could have been, I thought the story to be truly unique and creative, just like the old King I remember. It was crude in fashion, somewhat fantasy and somewhat nightmarish, and it was downright cruel, cutting away the sugar-coated talents of Micheal Crichton and opting for the distinguished over-dramatic brutality of Victor Hugo. Although King is neither of these two, and perhaps not nearly as good of a complex writer, he still clutches to a rung on that Creative ladder that has always been his, no matter how bad his grip seemed to be slipping in the past.

What I liked most about this book was the diverse cast of characters. There's pretty much something for everyone and they all play off each other really well.

The plot itself was also highly entertaining, but it wouldn't have been half as good if it weren't for King's superb characterization of the players on the canvas.

Stephen King should be best author of the year. He has a wild imagination. I enjoy reading his novels because he is very detailed with his writing. Its like a mini movie screen in your brain while you are reading. This book is very interesting and confusing at times but you need to know whats going on. This novel switches scenes and writes about dreams people have. I would recommend this novel to people who have strong stomachs because it will blow you away. People with a great imagination should definitely read this novel.

He is the KING of modern literature! Although this was not one of my favorites, it was still overwhelmingly better than most modern novels, as usual. I just can't bring myself to give it lower than 4 stars. There should be another rating system for S.K. alone. As always, SUPERB storytelling and great, believable dialogue and plot. The main thing that I did not like about this book is that it did not explain anything about the tie between this and The Regulators. And I get the feeling there will not be another book involving this particular cast of characters so I wish this had been made more clear. Are they in a time warp? A different astral plane? Who knows? But it is almost completely unimportant because the book can stand alone. I would recommend it to anyone!

one of stephen king's best. how can anyone give this anything other than 5 stars? and what's with the 1 and 2 stars? this is an exciting and gory book. the story is amazing and feels like you're actually a character in it. that's how deep it is. get this book because it's frickin sweet.

The King of Horror has done it again! This is one Kings most horrifying and creative novels. When I finished it,I went straight back to the beggining of the book and read it again. This book is awsome! Tak

I Highly recommend this book. It is my favorite book, and i have read quite a few. It is both a horror novel, and on another level one that makes you think twice about your very existence. It manages to blend the surreal battle of good and evil, with an idealistic outlook on the way things are. Stephen King puts such realistic characters into such an insane setting, you can never really tell when it is too much. This book has definitely changed my life, and has caused me to start writing my own novel. If you read this i hope you enjoy it as much as i did.

Desperation, a small town in the American Desert, is haunted by an unformed being, Tak, which is trying to control and protect its little eden of death for eternity. Tak's taste for flesh is unrelenting and is excitingly and disgustingly detailed as only King can do. Does letting the genie out of the bottle conjure up any thoughts? Well that is basically the plot of this story. It is a book that almost reads itself and if your into deteriorating killer zombies, bodies on walls, a sicko policeman, and a little boy who can actually converse with God, then this book is definitely for you. Overall for a Stephen King fan the book is worthwhile and would be a good addition to your collection. If you've never read Stephen King before, this would be a good place to start - then go out and be terrified by The Shining.

This is the book that I'm currently reading right now. I just wandered into boarders, while I was upset, and started rumaging through the stephen king section. Right from the first page I was hooked. It just draws you in and it keeps the suspense level at an all time high. It's really a great read.

I really enjoyed this book.
To begin with all the characters are interesting and are introduced in an endearing manor. King demonstrates that he truely has a gift for dramatic writing and the book is a real pageturner.
Without giving too much away King does a good job of putting the characters in the middle of a battle between to forces. The characters of "God" and the "Tak" are mysterious and mystical and add a deph to the book not found in some of King's other works.
What this book really does well however is makes the reader feel as though he(with the characters) has been thrust into pure Hell. The reader really wants the characters to escape the town of Desperation but at the same time wants the book to continue.

This book is absolutely amazing. It is a true testament to the writings of Stephen King. From the first page, the thrills are evident. Not a page was turned that I was "NOT" on the edge of my seat. There aren't too many books that make me lie awake in bed after reading it, wondering what was waiting for me in the darkness.....but this one did. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is considering reading a King novel for the first time. It will definitely get you hooked: without a doubt.

I am a huge Stephen King fan. I've read just about all his books. This one is probably my favorite. It is just so creepy even from the first line in the book. I recommend this to anyone just starting to read King's books or for the die hard lover of his books. This one doesn't disapoint.

The plot here is a relatively original twist on S. King's horror stories: people driving near the small town of Desperation are caught by a large police officer who talks strangely and looks like he's going to disintegrate any minute. They are saved by a very religious boy, and together they find out that a digging operation uncovered a cave and released an evil 'god', who was fought and beaten by God through the religious boy and a writer.
I didn't like the religious - somehow Christian theme of this book, since I'm Jewish and not a very religious person. Also, switching back and forth between many sub plots helped form a larger point of view about what was going on in Desperation, but was very confusing and not worth the bother...

I enjoyed this book immensely. Reading Stephen King's books is a gamle. Some I love, others I hate. This book is one of those that make the gamble worthwhile. I am not going to spoil your enjoyment by describing the plot. I will stay that there is pleny of action, and lots of interesting characters. There is quite a bit of religion and supernatural involved as well. But it is not pushy or overbearing, like the "Left Behind" series. It is entertaining and insightful. I would certainly recommend this book.

I never read a Stephen King book before The Regulators, after which I was referred to this book by a friend. I picked up the book and saw that it was almost twice as long as the Regulators, so I waited a while to read. But once I started, I couldn't put it down. King's totally original idea for the villain (Tak) makes for the best storyline in any novel I've ever read. If you like Stephen King (which I suddenly do), this book has it ALL. And as for the "left-wing paranoia", it exists only within the mind of Johnny Marinville and is not an attempt by King to inject some of his politics into his novels. This book rises far above that with a moral that is stated over and over in the book itself.

After then success of The Stand, I don't blame King for writing another religious-run plot, and it normally worked. However, he went a little overboard on it. It doesn't affect what I thought of the novel, though.
I read The Regulators before this, and I hated it. I didn't want to read this book because I thought it would be a mirror of it, but it was wasn't. The main thing that sets this above the other is that it isn't so grossly violent. There is still plenty of guts and gore, but not to the graphic extent of the Regulators.
The plot has many great aspects of it. One thing I really liked were the jokes every few pages. The characters were really great, too. It was very imaginative, like the tak bodies slowly deteriorating, something I thought was very funny, especially for the cop. Overall, this is a great book, recommended for anyone who likes the horror genre.

I have always wanted to say, when asked what type of Christian I was, that I was similar to that of Stephen King and the Indigo Girs. King constantly engages with Christianity in ways that realistically explore our faith and times. He does not "sugar-coat" the fact that we as Christians live amid unreconcilables. Desperation, like The Stand before it, explores what faith truly means. King is dealing in Desperation with the question of how we can reconcile a God who loves us and yet allows us to suffer, many times without giving us clear reasons as to why. This strikes me as significant and important in ways that didactically "Christian" novels (such as, most notably, Frank Peretti) never get to the heart of in any way nearly as truly or richly as King.

It had been quite some time since I had read a book by Mr. King and I had forgotten what he was capable of when on top of his game. This book is a masterpiece and would be the crowning achivement of lesser writers' careers. King is a master of taking seemingly ordinary situations and turning the world he has created upside down while still keeping the believability quotient high. Although the book is long, it holds your interest throughout. I would highly recommend it whether you are a King fan or not.

I will admit I read this book avidly cover to cover in two sittings. It is compelling and suspensful, but that's all.
It is far from one of Mr. Kings's best works and the characters are cliche and of a formula tht can be found in dozens of other horror thrillers.
There is a powerful religious theme to the novel that may offput some readers. The real source of disappointment is the lack of an identified villain and a plot that spirlas down to a weak climax and explanation.
The book becomes very predictable toward the end and loses the power and suspense it delivered in the beginning.
I received this book as a gift. I think I would feel a bit cheated if I had purchased it myself.

From the moment you become deserted on that highway and thrust into the murderous town of Desperation along with the characters, you feel trapped, having no faith you will ever survive. How can you survive such a horrible nightmare? Why is this happening? In classic Stephen King form, her manages to create a new entity that brings on this terror and suspense, literally destroying a town.
This novel was hard to put down once I started the first chapter. Each page is a nail-biter, wondering what's in store for each character as the story progresses.
In the same suspense that was found in IT, Desperation brings out that same terror and surprise that has you "pulled in" and wanting more, yet feeding enough fear to not want to give in to it.
Definately one of Stephen King's best novels since IT terrorized the best-sellers list in 1987.

I have been an avid Stephen King reader for many years. I started with "The Stand" which I thought was great. However, of the 30 or so books of his I've read, "Desperation" takes the cake! I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. It is typical King with stories of multiple characters and the back and forth thru time scenario. But it is the most INTENSE book of his that I've read. You find yourself losing track of time and wanting to stay awake until you finish the book. It is definitely "on the edge of your seat" reading. I recommend anyone, Stephen King fan or not, to read this book.

I THOUGHT THAT THIS BOOK WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST BOOKS KING HAS WRITTEN. I LOVE READING HIS WORK AND IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS ONE, I WILL ONLY TELL YOU THAT IT IS ONE TO READ ON A WEEKEND. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I WAS DRAWN IN AS IF I WAS A CHARACTER. KING DOES A GREAT JOB OF KEEPING THE SUSPENSE IN THE AIR. YOU WILL BE ON EDGE WONDERING IF THE PRISONERS WILL GET OUT OF THIS TOWN, AND IF SO WILL THEY BE CARRIED OUT OR WILL THEY WALK OUT? WHO IS THE NEXT VICTIM? I ENCOURAGE YOU TO EITHER BUY OR BORROW THIS BOOK, YOU WILL BE AMAZED!

Desperation was a good book. What a unique idea making two books out of the same characters, but changing things around a little. It was very entertaining and I absolutely loved the "God" stuff. Very cool. I think I liked The Regulators better though because it was so original. These books are a fast read.
I never seem to find Stephen King scary. Sometimes disturbing, but never scary. Anyone got any ideas for me? Feel free to email me. So far in my life i've read The Shining (the best book ever written in my opinion), Desperation, The Regulators, Cujo, Night Shift (very fun and my first SK at the age of 11), The Langoleers (just that one out of 4 Past Midnight)and right now im reading It.

I'm only fifteen years old, and this is only the second Stephen King novel I've ever read (the first being "Bag of Bones"), but, in my humble opinion, I don't see how it could get much better than this. This book pulled me in, made me feel like a part of the story, and like I knew the characters as if they were my closest friends. Everyone says that Stephen King's earlier work is better than this, but I don't see how it could get better. However, if it is, I can't wait to get my hands on the early stuff.

I'll be the first to admit, it's hard for me to get through a King novel. Most of the time I find him a bit too wordy, but this book got my attention from page one! Desperation is over 700 pages long and I read it in 2 days. This is an excellent King novel and it keeps you on the edge of your seat! Highly recommended for King fans and folks who are on the fence about his writing! My fav King book by far!!!!! Check it out!

And it was a bit of a struggle.
After an approximate 10-year hiatus (I enjoyed several of his early novels, up to and including The Stand, as a teen-ager) I decided to go back for another thrill escape, but was disappointed.
The novel does start out fun, but once I finally figured out what was going on, it was a labor to get to the end (which, however ballyhooed among my fellow reviewers, I did not find so great.)
Of the two main characters, the writer stands up better. The boy was too good. Couldn't he have any bad traits at all? I'd have been grateful.
Maybe I'm just not in the market for apocalyptic struggles of supernatural good vs. supernatural evil, as I was when I was a teen-ager.
I do, however, still remember The Stand very fondly.

I began this book thinking it was a crazy-cop psycho-killer, gore-fest, murder-hungry book. I was soooo WRONG. It is much more than that, it is a religious story about the powers of evil and GOD. God is cruel, but John 4/8: God is love. The main charactrs are loveable, hateable, worthy human beings who pull together in a hurry to survive.
Come visit the lonliest highway on earth, the small mining town of Desperation, nevada, come visit the condemed theatre that becomes a battle ground for good and evil, then visit the China Pit filled with human Bones. Desperation isn't just atown, it is a state of mind. TAK!

I gave up on Stephen King after reading the hardcover edition of GERALD'S GAME when it first came out. I hated all that supernatural stuff that he threw in that had nothing to do with the story, which started out as a great psychological tale and should have stayed that way. So I decided I would give him another chance and picked up DESPERATION. What a mistake! This book was awful. Nothing like the Stephen King of years ago. I had to force myself to finish it. It's clear that this book went straight from manuscript to finished book. Ugh!!!! It's going to be another few years before I pick up a new book by Stephen King!

How do you describe this book? Well, if hyou haven't already got it...GET IT!!! This is by far one of the best books i have read. I know The Regulators was published along side Desperation but The Regulators disappointing. Takes a whie to get into it. In my opinion Desperation is one of Stephen's finest achievements. Great plot. Great characters. Great story line. Keeps you engrossed. Superb book. Buying it is money well spent. ...

Few years ago I was enlighted to see that after not so good Insomnia and Rose Madder, this was a refreshing breeze.
This is scary and weird, intense fewerish nightmare !
You MUST read also The Regulators; that one is even more out there.

This book had it all. A great plot, well developed characters, and the death and gore you would expect from King. The cop was a great character and so were the others, as King obviously took his time on this book. Along with The Regulators, a must read for any King fan.